Fuel-feeding apparatus.



'3. NIEDERGESAESS. FUEL FEEDlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATIGN FILED 1AN.15, i914.

'Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l C@ Kef-wmf R. NIEDERGESAESS.

FUEL FEEDING APKPARATUS. APPLICATION man JAN. l5. 1914.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- To all whom it mayconcern'v ROBERT NIEDRGESAESS, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, -ASSIGN'OR TO AMERICAN SMOKELESS BURNER COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0E WASHINGTON.

' FUEL-'FEEDING APP r. '2f

Be it known that I, ROBERT NmnnnensAnss, a citizen of thel United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a specifcation.

My invention relates to improvements in fuel-feeding apparatus for furnaces,` and has for its objects the provision of a firereceptacle of improved construction; improved means for automatically under-feeding the fuel to said receptacle; means for protecting the charge of fuel from backring or combustion below a predetermined level, and novel devices for supplying air,

for combustion within said receptacle.

The invention resides in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts and devices for accomplishing the above named objects, as will be particularly described in the following' specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the burner. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detached view in front elevation of a portion of the transmission apparatus employed in the invention.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on lin'e 4-4 ofv Fig. 1.

Referring to said views, the reference numeral I0 designates an internally chambered base arranged to support thereon the exterior casing 11 of a fuel-and-fire receptacle. Said receptaclel is'illustrated as an inverted frusta-conical compartment within said casing, divided for convenience of description into an upper 'ire-receptacle 12 and a subjacent fuel-receptacle 13. The internal surface of said casing 11 about the latter receptacle is formed with integral spiral ribs 14 while the casing aboutthe lire-receptacle is ,laterally offset as at 15 to furnish space and support 4for a lining` of fire-brick 16 or the like.l

An apertured hub 20 isv formed in the upper wall 101 of said base centrally of said fuel-receptacle affording a journal bearing for a rotatable draft-tube21 extending up,- wardly centrally of receptacle 13'vand downwardly into the chamber 22 of the base where it is rigidly connectedto a relatively Specification of Letters Patent. applicati@ ined January 15, 1914.y serial no. 812,254.

rus.

Patented May 18, i915.'

largeworm-gear wheel.23 formed with an axial passage therethrough communicatively connecting with an air-blast supply pipe 24. The connections 25 between said pipe and the Wheel 23 are such as to admit of relative rotarymotion ofthe latter without disturb- 1n the operative connection.

heupper ortion of the laperture in said I hub 20 is en arged and tapped to provide screw-threaded rigid water-tight connections with an upstandlng circular partition 30' which extends concentricallyof said draftl tending downwardly exteriorly of the partition 30 in. proximity of said hub 20 being axially chambered at 34 to receive said stationary partition between its wall 33tL and the draft tube 21. f

Spiral lifting screw-blades `35 are formed exteriorly of said core having the direction of their inclination disposed oppositelyto the direction of the spi-ral ribs 14. Said core and blades may desirably extend upwardly. to within the fire-receptacle 12.

Provision is made axially of said core for the communicative connection with said draft-tube, of a burner 40 which is likewise arran ed to rotate with said core and tube. Said urner may be of any desired or suitable type. lAs illustrated, it consists in'a head 41 having threadedconnection with the core and a central passage 42 in axial alinement with said draft-tube formed at its upper end with a plurality of radially directed branches, see Fig. 2, in which are positioned nozzle-tips 43 extending radially in horizontal planes and formed at their outer extremities with slots 44 for the emission of air to support the combustion within the fire-receptacle.

Said feed passage 31 affords communication between said fuel-receptacle and a fuelhopper 46 and is desirably inclined downwardl;r toward the receptacle and liares somewhat toward the latter to avoid choking. A feed-screw 47 is arranged axially of said passage 31 being rotatably supported at one end, at 48, in the wall of said hopper and extends exteriorly of said'wall upon which a gear-wheel 49l is keyed.

A power-shaft 55 driven by any suitable means, is provided with a spur-pinion 5o 1n mesh with a gear-wheel 57 mounted upon a shaft 58 carrying a worm-pinion 59 which operatively engages the worm-gear wheel 23 whereby the lifting screws and burner are actuated at a relatively reduced speed.

Subjacent to said, hopper 46 an arbor 65 is rotatably journaled provided at one end with a spur gear 66 in mesh with said gearwheel 49. Adjacent its opposite end said arbor is provided with a worm-gear 67 in,

, per extremity'of the partition 30. rIhe design of the structure is such that stuiingboxes, or special provision of packing and the like to prevent leakage, is avoided. For example, the provision of said partition allows of a liquid-'tight revoluble joint without undue friction and the feed-screw 47 is inclined at an angle that-will insure /that the bearing 48 will be above high-water mark.

The liquid` level in said `receptacle and passage is maintained by open pipe-connections with a regulating tank 71 having an inlet pipe 72 connecting with a source of water supply underlpressure. controls the influxi of water in said inlet pipe and is automatically opened and shut by the rise and fall of a float 74 depending upon the change in elevation of the water of said tank,` and maintaining the water in the fuel-receptacle at substantially the same level, as will 'beclearly comprehended.

The. operation of the apparatus is simple and" easily understood by reference to the drawings. rI'he fuel, such as pulverized or slack coal, is deposited in the hopper 46 and is fed by the rotation of. the screw 47 through the passage 31 into the fuel-receptacle 13 whence it is lifted by the screws 35 into the superposed fire-receptacle 12. The fire is maintained in said receptacle 12 and is supported by air supplied through the rotating burner-nozzles 43. The body of coals above said burner are thus in a state of incandescence and combustion and upon reaching the upper margin of said fire-receptacle are entirely consumed save the ash and clinker resulting therefrom which is ejected over said margin either by its gravity or by raking off by an attendant.

The coal or other fuel is fed continuously upwardto the fire-zone above said burners and is brought gradually to a state of complete combustion by the radiation and conduction of heat from thel fire downward A valve. 73

which raises the temperature of the lfuel gradually during its progress upwardly until its products are partially set free by such heat and escape upwardly to be -consumed. Thus an almost complete combustion of the gaseous products of fuel is maintained during the entire period of operation after the fire is at an efficient stage. y

Owing to the prolic generation of gaseous products from the fuel during its preignition stage, which is a marked characteristic of my invention, I provide the liquid seal at the bottom of the receptacle 13 which prevents the leakage of gas into the hopper 46 and the possible chance of combustion taking place too low in the receptacles.

Water may be used advantageously, or relatively heavy petroleum oil or, preferably,'oil and water together. A proportion of oil in the liquidemployed which would float upon the water would; be as eilicient in preventing any backfire of said generated gases and would serve as an additional and economical combustible element that would addl considerablyT to the efficiency and economy of the apparatus in various applications. The oil would adhere in minute quantities to the fine particles of coal and would be relatively quickly dissipated in gas which .would be consumed completely by its ascent through the glowing coalsthereabove.

The supply of oxygen to support combustion in the air emitted through the burner may be separately regulated by the speed of the blower, .and conveniently the latter may be driven from the power shaft and be of such type that the volume of air delivered remains proportional to the speed with which lthe blower is actuated. Thus, when the speed of said shaft is reduced to deliver the fuel at a slower rate, the air supplied for combustion will be proportionately reduced.

The invention is applicable to a wide variety of uses and is particularly adapted to employment in the furnaces of steam or hotwater heating plants for domestic or apartment-house use. By its employment a relatively low grade of fuel is efliciently burned without waste and with a minimum of care. A small electric motor is believed to be the most convenient and practical power agency to actuate the device, the power required being exceedingly small` and entirely disproportionate to the efficiency of the apparatus and saving effected in fuel and time.

Having described my invention, what I claim, ist 1. In a fuel-feeding device, the combination of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle provided with means for moving the fuel progressively toward the top thereof, of a fuel-supply hopper associated-with said receptacle provided with an opening communicating with the bottom of said fuelreceptacle, and means to supply a liquid to said receptacle to seal said opening and means to maintain said liquid at a predetermined level;

2. In a fuel-feeding device, the combina.- tion of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle provided with means for moving the fuel progressively toward the top thereof, of a fuel-supply hopper associated with said receptacle provided with an opening communicating with the bottom of said fuel-receptacle, and means to supply a liquid to said receptacle to seal said opening.

3. In a fuel-feeding device, the combination of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle, a lifting screw therein, of a fuel-supply hopper associated with said receptacle provided with an opening communicating with the bottom of said fuelreceptacle, a feed-screw in the bottom of said hopper, means to actuate said screws in unison, and means to supply a liquid to said receptacle to seal said opening and means to maintain said liquid at a predetermined level.

4. In a fuel-feeding device, the combination of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle, provided with means for moving the fuel progressively toward the top thereof, of a fuel-supply hopper associated with said receptacle provided with an opening communic'ating with the bottom of said fuelreceptacle, a feed-screw in the bottomvof said hopper, means to actuate said screw, and means to supply a liquid saidreceptacle to seal said opening.

5. In a fuel-feeding device, the combination of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle, an air-supply pipe rotatably mounted in said receptacle, a burner head rotatable with said supply pipe having laterally directed openings for the discharge of air from said supply pipe and a concentric lifting screw rotatably mounted in said receptacle, a fuelsupply hopper, a communicative passao'e between said hopper and the bottom of said receptacle, a feed-screw in said passage, and means to rotate said supply-pipe and said screws.

6. In a fuelfeeding device, the combination of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle,

'an air-supply pipe and a concentric lifting screw rotatably mounted in said receptacle, a fuel-supply hopper, a communicative passage between said hopper and the bottom of said receptacle, a feed-screw in said passage, means to rotate said supply-pipe and said screws, and means to automatically supply and maintain a. liquid .in said receptacle at a predetermined level.

7. In a fuel-feeding deviceythe combina'n tion of a fuel-receptacle provided with means for progressively moving the fuel therein, of a fuel-supply hopper provided with an opening communicating with said receptacle, and means to supply a liquid to said receptacle and hopper to seal said opening therebetween and means to maintain said liquid at a level above said opening.

8. In a fuel-feeding device, the combination of a fuelreceptacle, a fuel supply hopper associated with said receptacle provided with a supply opening communicating with the receptacle, and means to supply a liquid to said receptacle sealing said opening.

9. In Va fuel-feeding device, in combination, a fuel-receptacle, a fuel supply hopper having an opening communicating with said receptacle, means to supply a liquid to said Yreceptacle sealing said opening, means to automatically maintain said liquid at a predetermined level above said opening, operative fuel-feeding devices within said receptacle, and a partition eXtending above the level of said liquid to protect the bearings of said fuel feeding devices from said liquid.

10. In al fuel-feeding device, the combination of a vertically arranged fuel-receptacle, an air-supply pipe and a concentric lifting screw rotatably mounted in said re ceptacle, a fuel-supply vhopper, a communicative passage between said hopper and the bottom of said receptacle, a feed-screw in said passage, means to rotate said supplypipe and said screws, and means to automatically supply and maintain a liquid in said receptacle at a predetermined level, and means for guarding the bearings of said airlsupply pipe and said lifting screw from said i uid. i 1

.q11. In a fuel-feeding device, the combination of a vertically 'arranged fuel-receptacle, an air-supply pipe rotatably mounted' axially of said receptacle, a lifting screw rotatably mounted exteriorly pf said pipe, an a burner-head rotatable with said pipe formed with laterally extending projections ROBERT NIEDERGESAESS.

Witnesses E. PETERSON, HORACE BARNES. 

